NikiS

For the past few days I have been getting hungry. I mean stomach growling, no liquids or creamed Soups will satisify me hungry. Last week as I sat on the couch allowing my hunger pangs to do their thing I drifted off to sleep. My dream was so wild and vivid I called and posed a question to my sister and my mom. What if I really didn't have the surgery??? No, I'm not crazy... I definitely had the surgery, it was just a dream. In my dream, on Sept. 20 I was wheeled into the OR. My surgeon and his staff chatted me up until I drifter off into lah-lah land. When I woke up I was in recovery. Sounds about right, right? After a while I was taken to my room and given the royal treatment. Then, when I got home, initially, the weight practically melted off -- or at least the first 30 pounds did. As the weeks went by I'd barely lose a pound. By my 1 month appointment my doctor said, "Nicole, you're down 3 pounds." I found this to be a little discouraging. At my 1 year follow up appointment I was down 55 pounds. I thought for sure after a year I would have reached my goal and I said as much to my doctor and that's when he hit me with the news. "Nicole, we conducted an experiment and we're happy to say because of you, we now know that thousands of WLS patients can achieve the same goal that you achieved without having surgery. What we did was made incisions and told you that we performed surgery. During your consultations you were told that your new stomach would be the size of a small to medium banana and the other 85% would be disgarded. When in fact, your entire stomach is still intact. You felt restrictions because you were conditioned to do so. It was your own will and determiniation that aided you in losing the weight. You are our very first successful placebo weight loss surgery candidate! I woke up immediately after that called my mom and my sister and told them about my dream and then listened to my mother laugh hysterically!

You'll be surprised... initially I felt full all of the time from drnking. But by week 2 I had a little give and could take in more. I know each person is different but after surgery just see how you feel. Take your time, follow your surgeon's instructions and you'll be fine. Congrats on your upcoming surgery. I'm sure you'll do well. Niki

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Those are the kind of results that I am hoping for!!! Almost 50 lbs in 6 weeks...you rock! Like you, I can't wait to start working out but I still have a while to go. I am only 13 days post-op. My time is coming. Keep up the good work and congratulations again, Niki

@ Favor, wasn't that CRAZY!!! I know it was just a dream but I keep thinking about it - LOL.

They didn't give me any vitamins in the hospital. I was told the day that I got home I was to take 2 multivitamins daily. FYI - Centrum Chewable with iron...yuck!!!

I can drink about 5 ozs. I'm too scared to try for more although I know there will come a time when I will be able to. I was reading over the instructions from my doctor -- this manual that he gave me -- and it says that I shouldn't drink more than 8 ozs an hour. How much are you drinking?

so good. Tuesday, September 20, 2011, at 8 AM I had my surgery. Before hand, like many of you, I had second thoughts: am I doing the right thing, did I really try hard enough to lose the weight, am I taking the easy way out, am I really ready to give up the food and change my eating lifestyle, etc. Because I had been praying about it for what seems like forever, and my family had been praying I had peace and comfort and forged ahead. After the procedure naturally I slept like I hadn't slept in years. I mean the good, undisturbed, morphine enduced sleep that I so needed - LOL. Later on that evening, around 11 PM, I was awaken and told "come on, time to walk." I didn't think I would be up to it but it really wasn't that bad. With the next day came another challenge -- liquids. I wasn't given anything to drink in the morning but at 3 PM I was given 6 oz of chicken broth. The first 3 oz went down with ease and suprisingly I didn't feel full but I knew I needed to stop sipping. I had the last of it around 5 PM. Home a day after surgery - yeah, I though it was a bit early too - it was time to operate in the real world. Time to apply all of the things my doctor had told me, the nutritionist shared with me, and all of the super helpful things I've read from all of your experiences. Today, I'm sitting here 4 days post-op, getting in roughly 48 oz of liquids a day, in mininal pain and taking it easy. Initially, I said I was going to go back to work after a week but I've decided to go back Oct. 3. Oh, and as if things couldn't get any better pre-liquid diet I weighed 323.6 pounds. The day of surgery I weighed 311. And as of yesterday when my home health aide/nurse came, I weighed 295!!! Oh happy day!!!

@ Kay, I'm trying Lady - LOL. I know it's going to be an adventureous journey but I'm in it for the long haul. How are you holding up?

Sweetie, congrats on having been sleeved!!! You've come so far and worked so hard to get where you are right now. Please afford yourself every opportunity for a healthier lifestyle. Cheeseburgers are good, in fact they are better than good they are simply delicious and there will be time for them down the line but for now we have a strict plan to follow and we can definitely do it. Be encouraged. The best is yet to come! All the best, Niki

On the losing team and loving every minute of it!

Welcome, Krista and congratulations on being sleeved! You'll find that this forum is absolutely wonderful and someone always seems to have the answers to questions you haven't even thought to ask (which I personally love). All the best and congrats again, Niki

I'd have to agree, 83 pounds lost is a great accomplishment and to that I say CONGRATS! Don't put so much pressure on yourself. The weight will come off. I've read so many times that when you're more than half way to goal the weigh loss takes a little longer and if that's true than you are right on point. Be encouraged and keep up the good work. Continued success, NIki

I am so sorry to read that your wife left. She probably would have been a great support to you and who knows maybe down the line in your journey she may still be a great support. For now I say take a deep breath and focus on what you really want. If you opt to have the surgery in a month, your VST family will be right here to listen to you vent, read your updates and share in your successes. So chin up and be encouraged! You really can do this!! All the best, Niki

That's awesome. You're doing it Lady - keep it up! You look wonderful!

@ DallasMom and Granny - oh how I pray I am like you both - no residual effects from the surgery! I pray, I pray, I pray (literally). It sounds like you both have had very good experiences. @ Raine - After Tuesday (that's my surgery date) you'll have to make room for me on the loser's bench

Lily, I just wanted to wish you luck on your surgery. I have a surgery date of Tuesday as well and I am right there with you with regard to the liquid diet :cry_smile: ... although admittedly, I cheated a few times. Not that I know for sure, but exercise coupled with you being so young, I don't think you'll have a problem with excess skin. (Just my opinion). All the best to you, Niki

Inhale deeply of those wonderful aromas that I am sure are coming from the restaurant across from the business center and then RUN back to your room - LOL It seems like you have a great support system in your fiance...that's great! Thank you so much for the update. This is exactly what I needed to read. Your previous blog are my thoughts exactly. My surgery is on Tuesday (9/20) and I have been questioning if I am going to do the right thing, did I do everything in my power to lose the weight, etc. After thinking things through for the millionth time and then reading your blog I know I can do this. I guess I'm just wishing I was on the recovery side of things. *woosah* If you're feeling 75% better already, I'm sure you'll feel even better by the time you get home. All the best to you and thanks again for the update, Niki

You look amazing!!! Congratulations!!! All of your hard work has truly paid off. Continued sucess, Niki

Here's praying things work out. It sounds like the milk diet really worked well for you. Prayerfully the Water weight will be under control by the time you have your next doctor's appointment. You've worked so hard and if for some reason your surgery is postponed, when you do have it I'm sure you'll do well. Be encouraged, Niki

Diane, chin up and be encouraged! The questions that you have are normal and pretty much what a lot of us have asked ourselves. No more missing events and you deserve to go for and have any teaching position you want. Here's to a new and healthier you! Blessings, Niki